Chapter 8: The Tamber's

Part 2

I was beyond surprised.

I stared at the beauty in front of me. She was beautiful, her black hair which I suspect was in a bun was now in a way were the bottom half of her silk loose curls were down to the middle of her back while the top was still up. She had big beautiful brown eyes, a well oval shaped face with high cheekbones. Her lips, those soft, innocent, full looking lips that were so delicate someone can look at them and know that she has never let another touch them.

She stared at me wide eyed. Carrying a look I could not fathom, the look could mean anything. It could be fear for all I know, fear I might take her innocence, fear I might beat her, or fear of my face. But also this look she had could mean she is just utterly surprised to have a complete stranger tumble on top of her. If my mind was in the right place instead of trying to figure out what she was thinking then I would have been off seconds ago, come to think of it if I were not prying and listened to the music being created in this room I would not be on top of her in the first place.

The woman chuckled bringing me back to my true senses. I shook my head and quickly stood.

"Please forgive me Mademoiselle." I quickly said offering her both my hands.

Her chuckle turned into an amusing laugh as she tenderly grabbed my hands. I pulled her to her feet and her sparkling eyes met mine.

I was speechless; her beauty has actually left me thunderstruck. All I did was stare at her, or was that truly all I was doing? No, that's not all, I never let go of her hands, her hands were securely held in mine as if I was making sure she would not fall again. I released them.

"A thousand apologizes Mademoiselle." I said knowing full well I could say anything else besides (I'm sorry). All she did was smile; could she do anything else besides laugh with that sensational smile?

"I'll accept half of those apologize for a thousand is just too mush to take." Her sweet country voice was soft and gentle. "May I inquire the name of the apologizer so I can accept his apologize the correct way?'

My chest went up and down, slowly at first but as she spoke my breathing became greater than before.

"Erik." I said. "Erik Munoire."

She did not offer a hand so I figured for once I would try to offer mine. I slowly lift my hand and waited for her to take it, I held my breath. She won't take it; you are lucky Christine touched you willingly…lucky she even kissed me…

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when something soft gripped my hand. The young woman shook my hand, without thinking I pulled her hand to my lips and gently kissed it. I looked up at her and saw she tensed up from that kiss, either she tensed because of the fact my face is distorted, or she has never been kissed on the hand before. If it was not considered rude I would have smirked proudly. She slowly bowed her head.

"Dreama Tamber." She said soothingly. "And this here is…" she turned around pointing to thin air, I frowned.

Dreama frowned as well, then suddenly began to giggle and looked down smiling.

"Bunny, Bunny? Come on now there is nothing to be scared of." she said talking to nothing.

Two minutes went by then suddenly; a small girl came into view from behind a bed. Her hair was black and straight going down to the middle of her back, her freckles started from one cheek to the other. She hung her head down yet kept her eyes in sight. Her posture was straight, and her hands were behind her back at ease. I have seen that sort of behavior before, she was shy. Awfully shy.

Dreama suddenly apologized for her what seemed to be younger sister's behavior, she explained that she was shy; I nodded already knowing she was.

She turned to her sister again trying to get her to come just an inch closer, her sister rapidly shook her head and backed away.

"Everything alright in here?" I turned my head toward the English accent and saw Thelma. "There you are! I haven't seen you this early afternoon." She said walking toward her sister's.

Dreama smiled to a great extent as she pulled her elder sister Thelma close. I looked to the side as I heard the small girl gasp.

"Thelma!" she said with great surprise. That was the first time I heard the girl known as Bunny's voice, it was not at all that high shrill voice some young girls have, she had a voice that was confident, confident in front of her family at least.

She rushed over to Thelma and hugged her with a must.

"I missed you, what have you been up to?" she asked her sister's.

"Oh, well Bunny here has been practicing Barbra Allen, let's just say today was her best practice, and I say that about her playing to." Dreama said smiling at Bunny, she blushed and quickly turned away as she noticed my stare.

"So Bunny has become better playing the Violin?" Thelma asked, my attention quickly went to Dreama, I waited for an answer.

"Oh yes certainly, I have never heard her play this good. It's as if something awoken her spirit." She said holding Bunny under her arm. Bunny looked up at her and nodded.

"Well I look forward on hearing my youngest sister's great talent!" Thelma said poking Bunny in the stomach. She giggled and moved away.

I just stood there silent, I watched them have there conversation of joy. But during that conversation, I believe you can say I was just shocked! Was the playing being played by these two beautiful girls? Was this woman Dreama teaching her young sister Bunny how to play the violin?

"Oh I'm so sorry Erik we're ignoring you completely!" said Thelma laying hand on my shoulder. "So I take it you have already met Dream and Bunny?" she asked giving a humid smile.

"Well I had the pleasure of meeting this Mademoiselle…"

"Dreama." She said correcting me with such grace. I grinned at her elegance.

"…pleasure of meeting Dreama," I said rephrasing. "But not precisely the pleasure of meeting this one." I said referring to Bunny. She backed away behind Dreama. I would have laughed but thought it unwise to do so.

"Well our little Bunny was always shy around strangers, but don't worry, she will eventually end up getting used to you." She said bending down and looked Bunny square in the face.

"Dreama! Thelma! And Bunny! Get down here right now!" shouted her mother. The three girls laughed as Thelma made fun of her mother saying something about her mother blowing a vein if she screams like that again.

We left the room and head down stairs, but I suddenly stopped for I remembered I had not yet washed my hands. I informed Thelma then made my way to the wash room.

I closed the door behind me. The room was a bit dim but I was used to that. Folded my sleeves up and began washing my hands. I scrubbed and scrubbed making sure I didn't see a spot of dirt on my hands; I didn't want Dolly to send me back up the stairs twice.

As soon as I was satisfied, I dried my hands with the nearest towel I saw. As I unrolled my sleeves I suddenly stopped.

Looking at the face in the mirror pained me, but not like it usually does. Then it hit me.

I quickly grabbed the counter before I fell to my knees. This whole time.

"What is happening to me?"

Two whole weeks. Never have I been this long with out some sort of mask covering my face! Even worse I didn't even realize it! I have been introduced to seven new people since the escape and none, none has mentioned my face, nor has any showed such fear they couldn't even look!

I suddenly felt the dizziness running and crawling in my gut. I may have not known I was mask less in front of them, but I know it now.

There were no other people to meet, I was set. Oh god I felt as if twenty people were out there waiting to see a freak! My knees gave away, my hands became weak, I fell to the floor with a thump. I felt my heart beating faster. My hand went to my chest; I tried to calm my breathing by telling myself that everything will be fine, just dinner then some rest! Stay calm, they didn't say anything! They were not frightened of me! Then why do you feel the moment you go out there you will be thrown back into that heartless lair?

Knock, knock, knock.

My head lifted.

"Erik? Are you alright? Hope you're not having a heart attack or anything."

It was Dean's voice, Thelma's father. The one person I didn't expect to check on me.

"I'm fine I said trying to stand. I made it to my feet and turned the knob. I opened the door and saw Dean looking at me with concern.

"You sure you are alright? You're sweating at a time you shouldn't be sweating." He said placing a hand on my shoulder.

I shut my eyes and took a deep breath, how I wish I was alright.

"I'm fine Dean." I said looking at him straight now. I just needed to clean my hands that's all." I said lifting my hands. He nodded.

"Alright then, come one time to have some real food!"

I know I know short, but at least I finally finished introducing you to the whole family. Yes I do relize its odd for Erik to stand there the whole time having no one look at him a gasp. But That is the Tamber's, they have seen many deformaties because Dolly is a Doctor, i know i said Thelma said no one was a doctor but see Dolly isn't really a doctor but she knows how to treat people who are sick or wounded.

just thought you would like to know that. ok preety please read and review!

thank you much!

Crytsal A.